Houston Cougars defeat TCU Horned Frogs 79-70

Freshman Kingston Flemings scores 25 points in road victory

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:47pm

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The 10th-ranked Houston Cougars overcame an extended shooting slump to defeat the TCU Horned Frogs 79-70 on Wednesday night in Fort Worth, Texas. Freshman Kingston Flemings led the Cougars with 25 points, while Emanuel Sharp added 23. Houston trailed only briefly early in the game and led by as many as 15 points in the second half before TCU made a late push to get within two points.

Why it matters

The win keeps Houston in contention in the Big 12 Conference, as they improve to 18-2 overall and 6-1 in league play. The loss drops TCU to 13-8 and 3-5 in conference. This was an important road victory for the Cougars, who had their 16-game true road winning streak snapped in their previous game against Texas Tech.

The details

Houston jumped out to an early lead and never trailed after a 12-0 run midway through the first half. The Cougars led 28-16 at one point, but then went cold, missing 11 of 13 shots to start the second half as TCU got within two points. However, Houston regained control with a late 8-0 run, with Flemings hitting four free throws and setting up a 3-pointer by Ramon Walker.

  • The Cougars led 28-16 in the first half.
  • Houston went on a 12-0 run midway through the first half.
  • The Cougars missed 11 of 13 shots to start the second half, allowing TCU to get within two points.
  • Houston responded with an 8-0 run late in the game to pull away.

The players

Kingston Flemings

A freshman guard for the Houston Cougars who scored a game-high 25 points.

Emanuel Sharp

A Houston Cougars player who scored 23 points in the win.

Xavier Edmonds

A TCU Horned Frogs player who had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

David Punch

A TCU Horned Frogs player who scored 16 points and had 6 assists.

Chase McCarty

A Houston Cougars forward who left the game in the first half with a left wrist injury.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The Cougars host Cincinnati on Saturday, while TCU plays at Colorado on Sunday.

The takeaway

This game showcased the talent and resilience of the Houston Cougars, who were able to overcome a cold shooting stretch to secure an important road victory against a conference opponent. The win keeps the Cougars in the hunt for the Big 12 title, while TCU's loss drops them further down in the standings.